Empowerment subject of Peres Leadership Program session for teens

The Peres Leadership Program, an affiliate of the Palm Beach Synagogue, will host its second teaching session today with the program’s next theme: empowerment.

Mayor Gail Coniglio will speak to the high school students at 5 p.m. today at the Hilton Hotel in West Palm Beach about the theme and her story.

The program, a six-month course that matches 50 students with 10 Palm Beach mentors, focuses on teaching young leaders six essential skills: vision, empowerment, persistence, tolerance, judgment and implementation.

Sophomores, juniors and seniors who aspire to be leaders in their community were selected for the program through an application and interview process, said Sarah Dworcan, executive director of the program. The program is nondenominational and accepts students from all backgrounds and religions.

At the first workshop Nov. 14 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, retired Maj. Gen. Ron Silverman spoke about vision.

Silverman recounted his vision from high school through becoming the first dentist to command medical troops.

“I didn’t necessarily follow all the trends in high school,” he said. “You should not be a follower, especially a blind follower.”

In his position with the Army, Silverman increased survival rates of injured American soldiers in Iraq by 95 percent, he said.

The session also included leadership activities and a talk from Art Johnson, professor of leadership and organizational development in the MacArthur School of Leadership at Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Some of this year’s mentors include businessman Jeff Greene, former U.S. ambassador to Denmark Stuart Bernstein and Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Lisa Small.

The program, which started last year, has expanded to include an advanced track for second-year students of the program and a young professionals track for 20- to 30-year-olds.